My name's Frank. I'm from Melbourne, but moved to Cairns in 1993 to work at a gay resort, and fell in love with the Far North Queensland (FNQ) region's beautiful natural environment and balmy weather, ideal for the naturist lifestyle! I'm now a mature-age urban design student, commuting between Cairns and Melbourne.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Since Valentine's Day, 2008, I was an enthusiastic part of the couchsurfing hosting community, initially for companionship, but soon also to expand my mind.

I hosted several hundred guests, most of whom became my friends. Some guests stayed for a considerable time, allowing us to become close friends. See me in this video from one of my guests: https://youtu.be/h0E1bBYLDjg?si=b_HTMoC8ttyQTqpr

In 2011, after hosting so many Germans, I travelled overseas for the first time in 32 years to see many of these new friends.

Since October, 2015, my opinions about couchsurfing have changed: it has become a corporation; it is no longer community driven; trust, rather than expected, has to be "earned" through an increasingly multi-layered verification process; and website changes occur without consultation, notification, or explanation.

Interests

In my desire to connect with nature, I like bush walking, gardening, and naturism. Environmental, planning, and social issues capture my serious attention, sometimes prompting me to write to the media. I'm also interested in healthy/sustainable living, entertainment (e.g., movies and theatre), Melbourne radio/TV history, local/family history, architecture, culture, writing, and acting.

• arts
• culture
• writing
• architecture
• design
• acting
• education
• environment
• movies
• hiking
• history
• tourism
• massage
• naturism
• sustainability
• theatre
• urban planning

Music, Movies, and Books

I have some CDs I bought when co-hosting a gay community radio show in the late '90s, and some vinyl records from my youth, but prefer being entertained by travellers' live music/singing. I appreciate art-house movies and documentaries that provoke thought, and read mainly non-fiction material related to my areas of interest.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Visiting many of my amazing couchsurfing friends in Germany!

Teach, Learn, Share

Always keen to teach/learn/share more about living peacefully and sustainably, including through a naturist lifestyle in FNQ.

What I Can Share with Hosts

As the FNQ region is so beautiful, I don't normally travel far, and due to couchsurfing's changes I am less likely to seek new hosts through the website (although I'm still happy to receive guests).

Countries I’ve Visited

France, Germany, Netherlands, New Caledonia, Singapore, United Kingdom, Vanuatu

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia

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